At a recent networking event, I met Carol.
She rolled into the room in her wheelchair, took a moment to adjust herself, and scanned the room before beginning to network.
She came up to me and began introducing herself.
Her words were slurred, and her movements twitched slightly, but her voice carried confidence.
“Hi, my name is Carol, and I am the founder of…”
She trailed off, struggling to complete her sentence.
I smiled at her and introduced myself, engaging her as best as I could. But before she could finish, she lost her train of thought and stopped speaking altogether.
As I moved on to interact with other participants, I couldn’t stop thinking about her courage, and the strength it took to show up, push past limitations, and make conversations and connections despite obvious physical challenges.
I sometimes find networking events uncomfortable. Putting myself out there, meeting new people, and making meaningful connections is not always easy. Yet, here was Carol, showing me what it means to step forward with strength and courage, despite the circumstances.
That day, I made some invaluable connections, but more importantly, I walked away with a lesson I couldn’t shake.
Later that evening, I listened to a YouVersion devotional, where the speaker thanked God for his disabilities!
His slurred speech, his wheelchair, his Cerebral palsy!
He referenced 2 Corinthians 12:9, where Paul speaks of his weakness:
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take this away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ So I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
I sat there, stunned. First Carol. Now this message.
I knew this wasn’t a coincidence.
I believe God wanted to remind you and me of the opportunities He has graciously placed in our hands—in the workplace, business, families, and relationships.
It was a strong nudge to stop focusing on our challenges and instead embrace whatever opportunities we have.
Your Challenges Are Not Setbacks
Today, I write to encourage you –
Don’t be among those who dwell on their weaknesses, peculiar challenges, or workplace struggles.
Instead, take a cue from:
Carol, who showed up with courage despite her struggles.
The Youversion speaker, who thanked God for his disabilities.
Apostle Paul, who understood that God’s power is revealed in our weakness.
Lean into God’s strength, not your own.
Don’t wait until you feel strong to move forward. Trust Him now, through the process, through the struggle and remain thankful.
Here is my word for you today – Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new centre of gravity. Don’t fight them. Just find a new way to stand. — Oprah Winfrey.
